Mercury set scoring record in 123-91 rout of Shock

TULSA, Okla. (AP) — Diana Taurasi scored 26 points, Candice Dupree had 23 and the defending champion Phoenix Mercury set a WNBA scoring record with a 123-91 victory over the Tulsa Shock on Thursday night.

Ketia Swanier added 17 points, Tangela Smith 13, DeWanna Bonner 11 and Penny Taylor 10 for the Mercury (9-12), who also set records with 67 points in the first half, most points in the second quarter (36) and most field goals in a half (25).

Phoenix topped the previous single-game record of 116 points, set in a victory against Tulsa on June 12.

The Mercury scored 100 or more points against the Shock for the third time this season and swept the four-game series against the franchise which was sold and moved from Detroit in the offseason.

Phoenix shot 59 percent (36 of 61) from the field, including 9 for 16 on 3-pointers. The Shock were limited to 44 percent (27 for 61) from the floor and 31 percent (5 for 16) on 3s.

As they have in most games this season, the Shock had trouble making shots and rebounding. They were often limited to one shot per possession while the Mercury got some offensive rebounds before scoring. Phoenix finished with a 40-33 rebounding advantage.

The Mercury stretched a 31-21 lead after one quarter to 26 at halftime and 33 after the third. Back-to-back 3-pointers by Taurasi and a layup by Swanier made it 45-26 early in the second. Although Tulsa fought back with runs, Phoenix regained momentum and kept pouring it on.

The Mercury took an early seven-point lead before Tulsa pulled to 13-11 in the first quarter. However, Phoenix took over from that point, putting together strings of runs.